Career Options in the Computer and IT Field

If you enjoy working with computers and technology then you may be considering a career in computers and IT, but are wondering what kind of options this type of career is going to give you. Luckily there are many types of careers in this field, depending on what type of education you decided to get, or already have. Here are a few ideas as to the types of careers you can find in IT or computers.

Computer Programming

This is a huge field with almost limitless options, which is why it is so hugely popular. Programmers usually start by learning the basics of computer programming, which is the language they speak. From there they can learn to program computers themselves, write software programs, or even video games.

Those wishing to pursue a career in computer programming will need to learn the following computer languages: Java, C, Delphi, .Net, and Visual Basic. Most computer courses cover some or all of these languages, while others may focus on one or two in order to give more of an in-depth education.

Internet Programming

While website design writing is certainly popular, the more popular employee is one who can write programming for the actual Internet. These people control how a website actually acts and incorporates different types of programs into the site to make it all work together. For major businesses that rely on web traffic for some or all of their income this person is invaluable as they make sure that the site is always running smoothly.

Internet programmers need to have a thorough knowledge of .Net, ASP, PHP, and Coldfusion in order to be as useful as possible. They will also have to dedicate themselves to keeping abreast of new trends in Internet programming and may need to attend courses each year to keep up with the times.

Mainframe Programmers

These guys are the 'big daddy' of computer programming, as they work for the huge corporations and usually are responsible for the programs that control money and stocks. These IT professionals are responsible for millions of lines of code and usually work as part of a large team to keep the mainframe up and running smoothly. They may be responsible for writing new programs and interfaces that let customers request or enter information, or they may be the person in charge of ensuring that the programs run fast and efficiently.

Mainframe programmers need to learn computer languages such as Cobol, DB2, and CICS, as well as some of the main computer programming languages.

Database Administrator

These IT professionals are usually responsible for making sure that a company's information is secure and that it can be accessed easily for those who need it. They can work for all kinds of companies from small to gigantic, across a wide range of business types. Oftentimes they work alongside a team that includes other types of programmers and administrators.

Database administrators need to have an initial broad knowledge of how databases work and how computers store information. They also need to be well versed in database languages, such as SQL and Oracle.

IT Management

After you have learned the ins and outs of the discipline you have chosen above you may be ready to move on to a career in IT management. For this to be a success you need to be in-tune with your company's systems and you may need to get additional certification. For example, if you start off as a computer programmer you may have to learn some additional languages so you can handle the management of the application side as well.

Published: 2009-11-02